Method and apparatus for conducting heat in a flip-chip assembly

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for thermally conducting heat from a semiconductor device, namely, a flip-chip assembly. In one embodiment, a heat sink, such as a diamond layer having openings therein, is provided over a surface of a semiconductor device. Conductive pads are formed in the openings to be partially contacting the diamond layer and to electrically communicate with the semiconductor device. The heat produced from the semiconductor device and thermally conducting through the conductive pads is thermally conducted to the heat sink or diamond layer and away from the interconnections, i.e., solder bump connections, between a semiconductor device and a carrier substrate in a flip-chip assembly. As a result, thermal fatigue is substantially prevented in a flip-chip assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.10/055,298, filed Jan. 23, 2002, pending, which is a divisional ofapplication Ser. No. 09/885,615, filed Jun. 20, 2001, pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to flip-chipsemiconductor devices and, more specifically, the present inventionrelates to improved heat dissipation in flip-chip semiconductor devices.

[0004] 2. State of the Art

[0005] Semiconductor devices inherently generate heat during operationwhich must be dissipated to maintain the semiconductor device at anacceptable operating temperature. As the operating speed of asemiconductor device increases, typically, the semiconductor device hasincreased power dissipation and increased heat generated. For example,high operating speed microprocessors tend to have higher powerrequirements and to generate more heat at the higher operating speeds.

[0006] Additional heat dissipation issues arise in the case where thesemiconductor device is configured as a “flip-chip.” In a flip-chipconfiguration, the surface of a semiconductor die which has anelectronic device formed therein directly opposes a die-attachsubstrate. The semiconductor die is typically attached to the die-attachsubstrate only by conductive bumps which lead to the bonding pads of thesemiconductor die. Typically, electrical traces printed on thedie-attach substrate lead from the bumps to provide interconnection toother circuit components.

[0007] The described flip-chip configuration gives rise to heatdissipation problems because most of the heat generated by asemiconductor device is generated at the active surface of thesemiconductor die. In the flip-chip configuration, the active surface ofthe semiconductor die is sandwiched against a die-attach substrate,which is typically a ceramic insulator, a relatively poor heat-sink,having the space between the semiconductor die and the substrate filledwith an underfill material to increase the strength of the connectionbetween the semiconductor die and the substrate as well as to helpprevent environmental attack of the electrical circuitry and connectionsto the substrate. As a result, the majority of the heat generated by aflip-chip semiconductor die is not efficiently dissipated. As such, theconductive bumps provide an extremely small surface area through whichthe heat must be dissipated, resulting in undesirable localized “hotpoints or hot spots,” which often result in thermal fatigue in theinterconnections of the conductive bumps.

[0008] In an effort to prevent such localized hot points, U.S. Pat. No.5,508,230 to Anderson et al. discloses a flip-chip assembly havingimproved heat dissipating capability. As shown in drawing FIGS. 1(a) and1(b), the flip-chip semiconductor device assembly in the ′230 Patentincludes a diamond layer 16 over the active surface 14 of thesemiconductor die 10 and a metalized pad 20 provided in a center portionover the top of the diamond layer 16. The solder bumps 22 are providedthrough openings 18 in the diamond layer 16. A die-attach substrate 12is connected to the semiconductor die 10 so that the solder bumps 22 andthe metalized pad 20 are directly contacting the die-attach substrate12. In this manner, heat is dissipated across the diamond layer 16 andis drawn off the device into the metalized pad 20. Although the diamondlayer 16 is an excellent conductor of heat, the heat may become trappedin the metalized pad 20, resulting in thermal fatigue between thesemiconductor die 10 and substrate 12 since the metalized pad 20 abutsthe substrate 12. Furthermore, the diamond layer 16 includes openings 18for the solder bumps 22 to protrude therethrough, in which the solderbumps 22 have little, if any, contact with the diamond layer 16. Thislack of structure contacting the solder bumps results in the inabilityto effectively draw heat from the solder bumps 22 or localized hotpoints. Thus, heat dissipating through the solder bumps 22 will causethermal fatigue in the solder bump interconnections between the die 10and substrate 12.

[0009] Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a method andapparatus that transfer heat from a flip-chip assembly to limit thepotential thermal fatigue to the semiconductor assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus fortransferring heat from a flip-chip semiconductor device assembly to helplimit and control any thermal fatigue of the flip-chip semiconductordevice assembly. The present invention is directed to a method andapparatus for providing a heat sink that dissipates heat away from thesemiconductor die of the assembly. The present invention includes adiamond layer overlying a surface of a semiconductor die for channelingheat from the semiconductor die in a semiconductor device assembly.

[0011] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a diamond layerdeposited or formed on the active surface of a semiconductor die, thediamond layer having at least one opening therein. At least one bond padformed on the active surface of the semiconductor die extends partiallythrough the at least one opening in the diamond layer. According to thepresent invention, the diamond layer thermally conducts heat from the atleast one bond pad of the semiconductor die being partially in contacttherewith. Further, the diamond layer dissipates the heat away from thesemiconductor die.

[0012] In another embodiment, the present invention includes a diamondlayer having at least one opening or via therein deposited or formedover a surface, typically the active surface, of a semiconductor die.The diamond layer includes a trace formed therein for electricalcommunication between the semiconductor die and a contact pad formed inthe opening or via in the diamond layer. In this embodiment, the diamondlayer thermally conducts heat from the semiconductor die, the trace andthe contact pad. In turn, the heat dissipates from the diamond layer.

[0013] In another embodiment, the present invention includes asemiconductor die having a surface, typically the active surface, with afirst diamond layer, or film, deposited or formed thereon. Bond pads ofthe semiconductor die are exposed through the first diamond layer. Asecond diamond layer is formed over the first diamond layer having apassivation layer therebetween. A conductive trace is formed in thepassivation layer to electrically communicate with the semiconductor dieand a conductive pad provided in openings in the second diamond layer.According to the present invention, the conductive pad extends partiallyover and in contact with the second diamond layer to thermally conductheat therefrom and, in addition, the first diamond layer directlycontacts the active surface of the semiconductor die to thermallyconduct heat therefrom. As a result, the present invention provides amethod and apparatus for thermally conducting heat from a semiconductordevice to prevent thermal fatigue in the interconnections therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The method and apparatus of the present invention will be morefully understood from the detailed description of the invention whentaken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of a conventional semiconductordie having a diamond layer the active surface thereof;

[0016]FIG. 1(b) is a side view of a conventional semiconductor diehaving a diamond layer thereon, depicting the semiconductor die beingattached to a substrate;

[0017] FIGS. 2(a)-2(i) are simplified partial cross-sectional views of afirst embodiment, illustrating a method for repatterning the activesurface of a semiconductor die to include a diamond layer thereon, inaccordance with the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a simplified partial cross-sectional side view of afirst embodiment, illustrating a semiconductor die having a diamondlayer thereon attached to a carrier substrate, in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a simplified partial cross-sectional side view of asecond embodiment, illustrating a semiconductor die having a thickdiamond layer thereon attached to a carrier substrate, in accordancewith the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a simplified partial cross-sectional side view of analternative to the second embodiment, illustrating a semiconductor diehaving an alternative diamond layer thereon attached to a carriersubstrate, in accordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a simplified partial cross-sectional side view of athird embodiment, illustrating a semiconductor die having multipleseparate diamond layers thereon attached to a carrier substrate, inaccordance with the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 7 is a diagram of a computer employing the present inventiontherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should beunderstood that the illustrations are not meant to be actual views ofany particular apparatus and/or method, but are merely idealizedrepresentations which are employed to more clearly and fully depict thepresent invention than would otherwise be possible. Additionally,elements common between the figures retain the same numericaldesignation.

[0024] A method and apparatus of a first embodiment of the presentinvention are shown in drawing FIGS. 2(a) through 2(i). Illustrated indrawing FIG. 2(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of a substrate 110.The substrate 110 is preferably an individual semiconductor die (bare orpackaged), but may be a wafer having a plurality of semiconductor dicethereon, or a portion or part of a wafer having a plurality ofsemiconductor dice thereon, or a carrier substrate, for a flip-chipsemiconductor device packaging assembly. In this embodiment, thesubstrate 110, a bare semiconductor die, includes a substrate surface112, or active surface, having a plurality of bond pads 114 (only onebond pad is shown for simplification) that is electrically connected tocircuitry (not shown) or a contact pad (not shown) or another bond pad(not shown) on the substrate 110.

[0025] As shown in drawing FIG. 2(b), a first passivation layer 120 isdeposited over the substrate surface 112 and the bond pads 114. Thefirst passivation layer 120 may, for example, have a thickness ofapproximately 5,000 to 45,000 angstroms. The first passivation layer 120may be any nonconductive material but is preferably a polymer such as apolyimide. The first passivation layer 120 is then coated withphotoresist 122, masked, exposed, and etched to form a bond pad via 124in order to expose the bond pad 114 thereunder. The remainder of thephotoresist 122 mask is then removed to expose the first passivationlayer 120.

[0026] As shown in drawing FIG.2(c), a conductive layer 130, preferably,but not limited to, an aluminum, copper, silver and/or alloys thereof,is applied over a surface 132 of the first passivation layer 120 andinto the bond pad via 124. The conductive layer 130 is then coated withphotoresist, masked, exposed and etched to form at least one conductiverepattern trace 140, as shown in drawing FIG. 2(d). The etchedconductive layer therefore provides a trace 140 that extends from thebond pad 114 to an alternative bond pad location 142. The trace 140 isetched to be substantially uniform in thickness over the portionextending over the first passivation layer 120 and may have a dimple inthe portion of the trace 140 overlying the bond pad via 124.

[0027] As shown in drawing FIG. 2(e), a second passivation layer 150,which may be a material similar to that of the first passivation layer120, is provided over the trace 140. The second passivation layer 150may, for example, be applied to a thickness of approximately 5,000 to45,000 angstroms. The combined thickness of the first passivation layer120 and the second passivation layer 150 may be approximately 50,000angstroms. However, it should be noted that the thickness of the firstand second passivation layers 120 and 150 are not limited to the rangespreviously set forth, and neither is the combined thickness limitedthereto.

[0028] As shown in drawing FIG. 2(f), a diamond layer 160 is thenprovided over the second passivation layer 150. The diamond layer 160may have a thickness of approximately 50 to 2000 angstroms; however, theinvention is not limited to this range of thickness. The diamond layer160 is then coated with photoresist, masked, exposed and etched to format least one via 162 therethrough. The via 162 is etched into thediamond layer 160 and the second passivation layer 150 to expose thealternative bond pad location 142 of the trace 140. The diamond layer160 may comprise a polycrystalline layer of diamond, an amorphous layerof diamond, a layer being a combination of polycrystalline diamond andamorphous diamond, a layer including diamond, either polycrystallinediamond or amorphous diamond or both polycrystalline diamond andamorphous diamond, and other elements, such as metals, silicates, rareearth elements, or other desired elements or contaminant elements, suchas elements from the precursors forming the diamond layer, etc. In eachinstance herein, the diamond layer is referred to as a layer of diamondor a layer of substantially diamond. The layer of diamond may bedeposited according to methods known in the industry, such as chemicaldeposition methods. For example, such chemical deposition methods forthe deposition of the layer of diamond are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,124,179 and 5,126,206.

[0029] As shown in drawing FIG. 2(g), a metal layer 170 is formed overthe diamond layer 160. The metal layer 170 may comprise an adhesionlayer for adherence to one or more of the diamond layer 160, the secondpassivation layer 150, and the conductive trace 140. The metal layer 170may also comprise a wettable layer or a layer with high wettability forsolder reflow and bonding thereto, where the wettable layer may be on anopposite side or surface of the adhesion layer. The metal layer 170 isthen coated with photoresist, masked, exposed and etched from thediamond layer, except for a portion of the metal layer 170 overlying thevia 162 and adjacent thereto. As shown in drawing FIG. 2(h), theremaining portion of the metal layer 170 overlies the via 162 andportions of the diamond layer 160 adjacent to the via 162 so as toconform to the surface of the via 162 therein and the adjacent regionsof the diamond layer 160 thereabove. These remaining portions of metallayer 170 are known in the art as an under bump metallurgy (UBM)structure 180. According to the present invention, the portions of theUBM structure 180 contacting the diamond layer 160 are referred to as apartial contact area 182. The partial contact area 182 may contact thediamond layer 160 in any manner, such as underlying the diamond layer160 and/or abutting edge to edge; however, the partial contact area 182is preferred to overlay the diamond layer 160 as shown in drawing FIG.2(h).

[0030] As the UBM structure 180 is formed from the metal layer 170, theUBM structure also may comprise an adhesion layer and a solder wettablemetal layer as previously set forth. The UBM structure 180 may be formedfrom the metal layer 170 as a laminate or composite by chemical vapordeposition (CVD), plasma enhanced CVD, or physical vapor deposition(PVD) such as sputtering, evaporation or otherwise, as known in the art.It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to anyparticular UMB metallurgy or to a multilayer UBM. The UBM structure 180of the present invention may also be as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,903,058, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by thisreference.

[0031] As shown in drawing FIG. 2(i), the UBM structure 180 may receivea corresponding conductive bump 190 or conductive interconnect, such asa conductive pillar, column and/or solder ball. The conductive bump mayinclude but is not limited to any known conductive material or alloysthereof for attaching flip-chip assemblies, such as solder, lead, tin,copper, silver and/or gold and conductive polymers and/or conductivecomposites. The conductive bumps may also be layered with such materialsand/or alloys thereof The wetting layer in the UBM structure maydirectly contact the conductive bump and bond thereto after a reflowprocess at a predetermined temperature. The temperature may bedetermined by the conductive material employed in the conductive bumpand the wetting layer as known to one skilled in the art. In thismaimer, the substrate 110 having the above-described repattern on theactive surface thereof may be mounted to a carrier substrate 196 havingthe conductive bump 190 or the like therebetween, as shown in theflip-chip assembly 198 in drawing FIG. 3.

[0032] It has been determined in accordance with the present inventionthat diamond provides the best combination of thermal conductivity andelectrical resistivity of available materials. Although the diamondlayer 160 is preferred as a heat sink, other materials may be used suchas silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, and/or aluminum oxide, which alsoprovide high dielectric insulation but much less thermal conductivitythan diamond. The only other materials providing similar thermalconductivity to that of diamond are electrically conductive metals suchas copper and silver (diamond being approximately five times greater inthermal conductivity than copper), which are, of course, not useful inthis particular aspect of the present invention due to theirelectrically conductive quality.

[0033] In the present invention, the methods used in depositing thediamond layer 160 typically include, but are not limited to, evaporationmethods, laser-ablation methods, CVD methods, plasma enhanced CVDmethods and PVD or sputtering methods. However, any method known to oneof ordinary skill in the art may be employed in providing the diamondlayer in the present invention. The diamond layer 160 provided maycomprise crystal orientation of a single crystal or polycrystalline, orthe diamond layer 160 may be amorphous. The diamond layer 160 mayinclude but is not limited to other materials or layers such ashydrocarbons or organics, nitrogen, oxygen, etc. The diamond layer 160may be doped with nitrogen and/or oxygen, or may include trace amountsof nitrogen and/or oxygen.

[0034] Therefore, according to the present invention, as shown indrawing FIG. 3, diamond provides the best conduit or heat sink forchanneling the heat from the flip-chip assembly 198, although othermaterials as previously set forth may be employed in the presentinvention. Therefore, it can be well appreciated that by having the UBMstructure 180 partially contacting the diamond layer 160 at the partialcontact area 182, the diamond layer 160 acts as a heat sink, therebychanneling the majority of the heat to directly transfer it from thesubstrate 110 to the heat sink or diamond layer 160.

[0035] Thus, the heat produced in the semiconductor device in theflip-chip semiconductor device assembly 198 is channeled from thecircuitry (not shown) in the substrate 10 through the bond pads 114, thetrace 140 and through the partial contact area 182 of the UBM structure180. Since diamond is a much greater heat sink than any type ofconductive material, the majority of the heat is channeled from thepartial contact area 182 of the UBM structure 180 to the diamond layer160, rather than to the conductive bump 190. As such, the heat is drawnsubstantially uniformly across the diamond layer to dissipate therefrom(illustrated by arrows in drawing FIG. 3) and, more importantly, theheat dissipates away from the substrate 110 itself. Although some of theheat will naturally dissipate through the conductive bump 190, this heatis at a minimum and the conventional problems of thermal fatigue withinthe flip-chip solder bump and the like interconnections, i.e.,connection between the conductive bump 190 and the UBM structure 180and/or the connection between the conductive bump 190 and the carriersubstrate 196, will be reduced. Further, unlike other highly thermallyconductive materials (i.e., copper, silver, etc.), diamond is anonelectrically conductive material and, therefore, will not result inshorting-out the circuitry in the flip-chip semiconductor deviceassembly 198.

[0036] A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated indrawing FIG. 4, depicting a partial cross-sectional view of a substrate10 such as a semiconductor die for a flip-chip semiconductor devicepackaging assembly 248. The second embodiment is similar to the firstembodiment in every respect except that the first and second passivationlayers 120 and 150 may be replaced with a first diamond layer 260 and asecond diamond layer 262. As such, the first and second diamond layers260 and 262 may be deposited by employing a similar method as previouslydiscussed for the first and second passivation layers 120 and 150. Thevia 162′, discussed in the first embodiment, may be etched into thesecond diamond layer 262, after which the UBM structure 180 may beformed over the via 162′ similar to that which is set forth above. Thus,a thick diamond layer 264, comprising the first and second diamondlayers 260 and 262, with the conductive trace 140 therein may beprovided in the second embodiment. Alternatively, the thick diamondlayer 264, as well as the conductive trace 140 extending therethroughand the UBM structure 180, may be formed and then assembled with thesubstrate 110.

[0037] The thick diamond layer 264 of the second embodiment may bedesirable since diamond is not only a good dielectric insulator withexcellent thermal conductivity but is a material which serveseffectively as a passivation layer. As such, it is well appreciated thatthe thick diamond layer 264 thermally conducts heat from the elements itmay have contact with, namely, the substrate 110, the bond pads 114, theconductive trace 140, and the UBM structure 180, as shown in drawingFIG. 4. Additionally, the arrangement of the second embodiment providesfor the UBM structure 180 to include a partial contact area 182′ withmore surface area contacting diamond than that of the first embodimentdue to the second diamond layer 262 being used as a passivation layer(that carries the conductive trace 140 and electrically separates theconductive trace 140 from substrate surface 112) as well as a thermalconductor. As a result, the portions of first and second diamond layers260 and 262 that contact the conductive trace 140, along with thepartial contact area 182′, will provide for greater dissipation of heatfrom the substrate 110. Even more so, any heat flowing in the substrate110, trace 140, and/or UBM structure 180 will be drawn therefrom tothermally conduct into the thick diamond layer 264 and dissipatetherefrom (illustrated by arrows in drawing FIG. 4).

[0038] An alternative to the second embodiment is illustrated in drawingFIG. 5, depicting a partial cross-sectional view of a substrate 110 suchas a semiconductor die for a flip-chip semiconductor device packagingassembly 248′. This alternative is similar to the first embodiment inevery respect except that the second passivation layer 150 may bereplaced with a second diamond layer 262′. As such, the second diamondlayer 262′ may be deposited employing a similar method as previouslydiscussed for the second passivation layer 150. The via 162′, discussedin the first embodiment, may be etched into the second diamond layer262′, after which the UBM structure 180 may be formed over the via 162′similar to that which is set forth above. Thus, the second diamond layer262′, with the conductive trace 140 therein, may be provided as analternative to the second embodiment. Alternatively, the second diamondlayer 262′, as well as the conductive trace 140 extending therethroughand the UBM structure 180, maybe formed and then assembled with thesubstrate 110.

[0039] A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated indrawing FIG. 6, depicting a partial cross-sectional view of a substrate110 such as a semiconductor die for a flip-chip semiconductor devicepackaging assembly 398. The third embodiment is similar to the firstembodiment except for an additional diamond layer thereon. Inparticular, prior to depositing the first passivation layer 120, adiamond film 360 is deposited over at least the substrate surface 112.The diamond film 360 may have but is not limited to, for example, athickness of about 50 to 2000 angstroms. The diamond film 360 may bedeposited utilizing similar methods as previously discussed for thediamond layer in the first embodiment. After the first passivation layer120 is deposited over the diamond film 360, the bond pad via 124′ isformed by etching into the first passivation layer 120 and the diamondfilm 360 to expose the bond pad 114 thereunder. The process followedthereafter may be the same process steps as set forth previously in thefirst embodiment.

[0040] An important aspect of the present invention in the thirdembodiment is the diamond film 360 having direct contact with thesubstrate surface 112, a portion of the trace 140, and a portion of thebond pad 114. In this manner, heat will be additionally channeled (inaddition to that which the first embodiment provides) from the substratesurface 112, trace 140 and bond pad 114 through the diamond film 360 todissipate therefrom, thereby further preventing the heat from thermallyfatiguing the interconnections of the flip-chip semiconductor devicepackaging assembly 398.

[0041] It should be noted that if the diamond layer or layers, asdiscussed in the above preferred embodiments, are provided on asubstrate that comprises a wafer or multiple dice, it may be preferableto provide an etching process to the diamond layer or layers so that thewafer or multiple dice having a diamond layer or layers thereon may beeasily diced into predetermined individual semiconductor dice ormultiple semiconductor dice. Such an etching process may be incorporatedin the present invention during or in addition to the process ofproviding the openings or vias in the diamond layer as, for example,shown in drawing FIG. 2(f).

[0042] Referring to drawing FIG. 7, a computer 1000 is illustratedhaving a processing unit 1002, an input device 1004 connected to theprocessing unit by connection 1008, and an output device 1006 connectedto the processing unit by connection 1010. The input device 1004 may beany suitable type input device, such as a keyboard. The output device1006 may be any suitable type output device, such as a cathode ray typedisplay or field emission display, etc. The processing unit 1002includes a microprocessor 1012 and a semiconductor device 1014, such asa memory type semiconductor die, connected to each other by connections1016. The microprocessor 1012 may be any suitable available digital typemicroprocessor. The semiconductor device 1014 may be any availablesuitable type memory device. The microprocessor 1012 may be mounted on asubstrate 1018 while the semiconductor device 1014 may be mounted on asubstrate 1020. For the purposes of the present invention describedherein, either the microprocessor 1012 or the semiconductor device 1014may include the present invention as part thereof.

[0043] While the present invention has been disclosed in terms ofcertain preferred embodiments and alternatives thereof, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that theinvention is not so limited. Additions, deletions and modifications tothe disclosed embodiments may be effected without departing from thescope of the invention as claimed herein. For example, either the firstdiamond layer or the second diamond layer in the second embodiment maybe replaced with a polyimide passivation layer. Similarly, features fromone embodiment may be combined with those of another while remainingwithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer assembly comprising: at least oneinput device; at least one output device; at least one microprocessorconnected to said at least one input device and said at least one outputdevice; and a substrate connected to said at least one microprocessor,said substrate having a surface, at least one circuit located on saidsubstrate, a layer including diamond provided over at least a portion ofsaid surface of said substrate having at least one aperture therein, andhaving at least one contact pad having a periphery, said at least onecontact pad having at least a portion thereof extending at leastpartially over said layer adjacent said at least one aperture thereinand having at least a portion thereof extending through said at leastone aperture in said layer connected to said at least one circuit onsaid substrate.
 2. The computer assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid periphery of said at least one contact pad covers portions of saidlayer adjacent said at least one aperture therein.
 3. The computerassembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a conductive bumpdeposited on said at least one contact pad.
 4. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a passivation layer locatedbetween said substrate and said layer.
 5. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 4, wherein said passivation layer has at least onetrace having at least a portion thereof located on a portion of saidpassivation layer to connect said substrate and said at least onecontact pad.
 6. The computer assembly according to claim 4, wherein saidpassivation layer comprises a polyimide.
 7. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said layer has a thickness of at leastabout 50 angstroms.
 8. The computer assembly according to claim 1,wherein said layer has a thickness of between about 50 and 2000angstroms.
 9. The computer assembly according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a second layer including diamond located between saidsubstrate and said layer.
 10. The computer assembly according to claim 9wherein at least one of said layer and said second layer has at least aportion of one trace located on a portion thereof to connect saidsubstrate and said at least one contact pad.
 11. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 9, further comprising: a passivation layer locatedbetween said layer and said second layer.
 12. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 11, wherein said passivation layer has at least aportion of at least one trace located thereon to connect said substrateand said at least one contact pad.
 13. The computer assembly accordingto claim 4, further comprising: a film including diamond formed betweensaid passivation layer and said substrate, said film directly contactingsaid surface of said substrate.
 14. The computer assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said layer comprises substantially polycrystallinediamond.
 15. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidlayer comprises substantially amorphous diamond.
 16. The computerassembly according to claim 1, wherein said layer comprisespolycrystalline diamond and amorphous diamond.
 17. The computer assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said layer includes one of polycrystallinediamond, amorphous diamond and another material.
 18. The computerassembly according to claim 1, wherein said layer includespolycrystalline diamond, amorphous diamond and another material.
 19. Thecomputer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said substratecomprises: a semiconductor wafer.
 20. The computer assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said substrate comprises: a portion of a semiconductorwafer.